MAJOR FIELD TEST IN BUSINESS SAMPLE QUESTIONS MAJOR FIELD TEST IN BIOLOGY SAMPLE QUESTIONS The following questions illustrate the range of the test in terms of the abilities measured, the disciplines covered, and the difficulty of the questions posed. They should not, however, be considered representative of the entire scope of the test in either content or difficulty. An answer key follows the questions. 2. Cytoplasmic streaming in cells is a phenomenon that (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) depends on intracellular microfilaments depends on extracellular collagen is caused by cilia and flagella occurs only in prokaryotes is absent in green plants 3. A circadian rhythm is best exemplified by the 1. The data in the graph above represents the population size of the snowshoe hare—a prey species in northern Canada and Alaska—between 1850 and 1940. If one assumes that the predator and prey have mutual density-dependent effects on one another, the curve drawn for the simultaneous population size of the lynx, a predator on the snowshoe hare, would most likely (A) have peaks simultaneously with the peaks for the prey (B) have peaks halfway between the peaks for the prey (C) have peaks slightly before the peaks for the prey (D) have peaks slightly after the peaks for the prey (E) be essentially a horizontal line (A) emergence patterns of 17-year cicadas (B) annual migration patterns of monarch butterflies (C) daily activity patterns of a rat (D) scheduled mealtimes of a school child (E) menstrual cycle of an adult human female 4. Flame cells, green glands, and Malpighian tubules are all specialized structures involved in (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) digestion excretion respiration energy transfer reproduction 5. All of the following occur as part of the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis EXCEPT the (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) transfer of electrons to ferredoxin oxidation of water molecules formation of ADP molecules utilization of photons formation of O2 molecules 6. Compared to a eutrophic lake, an oligotrophic lake tends to have a greater (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) supply of oxygen in the deep waters number of blue-green algae biological oxygen demand amount of hydrogen sulfide amount of degradable organic matter 7. Higher plants have a polar main axis with definite stem and root ends. This polarity is first established (A) (B) (C) (D) when the seedling first grows into the light when germination first starts in the soil in the embryo of the seed at the time the plant is old enough to produce leaves (E) just before the flower forms on the parent plant 8. The membranes of mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria are all directly involved with all of the following EXCEPT (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) generation of ATP generation of chemical gradients generation of electrical potentials pumping ions against concentration gradients catalyzing the reactions of the Krebs cycle 9. Which of the following is released by the placenta and acts to assist in the maintenance of pregnancy? (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) Chorionic gonadotropin Vasopressin Thyroxine Luteinizing hormone Oxytocin 10.The evolutionary process most likely to account for the fixation of neutral or even nonadaptive allelles or allelle combinations in small populations is called (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) recombination Lamarckian selection Darwinian selection Genetic drift Mutation 11.Evolutionary change in both a pollinator and a flower resulting from their interaction is an example of (A) divergent evolution (B) regressive evolution (C)coevolution (D) parallel evolution (E)convergent evolution Questions 12 and 13 Directions: The following questions consist of five lettered headings followed by a list of numbered words, phrases, sentences, or figures. For each numbered word, phrase, sentence, or figure, select the one heading that is most closely related to it and fill in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet. One heading may be used once, more than once, or not at all in each group. (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) Differentiation Determination Pattern formation Induction Plasticity 12.A group of unspecialized embryonic cells is transplanted from a leg bud to a wing bud in the chick embryo, and develops into toes. 13.The lens of the vertebrate eye develops only after the head ectoderm comes in contact with the optic cup. Confidential and Proprietary. Copyright © 2014 Educational Testing Service Permission to reproduce this document is hereby granted to institutions (colleges and universities) administering the Major Field Tests for internal use only. No commercial or further distribution is permitted. Other persons or agencies wishing to obtain permission to reproduce this material may write to the Permissions Administrator at Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08541 Questions 14-15 Directions: The following questions concern a laboratory or experimental situation. In each case, first study the description of the situation. Then choose the one best answer to each question following it and fill in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet. Percent Representation Genotype Residents Emigrants 42% 18% 40% 64% 18% 18% SA SA SA SB SB SB 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. D A C B C A C E ANSWER KEY 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. A D C B D C C The table above summarizes the results of a study that examined the allele frequencies (A and B) at a locus S in a population of resident meadow voles versus individuals that are leaving the population (emigrants). 14. What is the percent frequency of the SB allele in the resident population? (A) 18% (B) 36% (C) 38% (D) 58% (E) 76% 15. The study strongly suggests that the allele frequencies in the resident population are changing as a result of (A) mutation (B) genetic drift (C) gene flow (D) acclimation (E) recombination Confidential and Proprietary. Copyright © 2014 Educational Testing Service Permission to reproduce this document is hereby granted to institutions (colleges and universities) administering the Major Field Tests for internal use only. No commercial or further distribution is permitted. Other persons or agencies wishing to obtain permission to reproduce this material may write to the Permissions Administrator at Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08541